Typographical machine.



J. R. ROGERS.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 20. 1012.

l l 1 1 ,UQ Z Q Patented Sept. 191i ATTOR/V JGHN lit.Ir'tflfi'rllillitfi, 01F BZtQGIiILYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALERLINOTYPE- GOMPAN? A CORPORATION OF NEW' TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 26, 1913.

Patented dept. 223, Jliliild. Serial No. 733,586.

b all whom it m (1;; concern:

Be it known that I, dorm it. Romans, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of generalorganization represented in Letters- Patent of the United States, No.36,532, to O. Mergent'haler, wherein circulating matrices are releasedfrom a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear inprint and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to theface of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug orlinotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon,and the matrices thereafter returned through a distributing mechanism tothe magazine from which they started.

More particularly, it relates to the construction of the matrices. andthis specifically in reference to the distributing means employed inconnection therewith.

Generally speaking, as disclosed in the said Letters Patent, or asemployed in the commercial linotype machine, the matrices are formedwith distributing combinations, and with supporting" cars whereby theyare controlled in their passage through the machine. These matriccs varyin size according to the special characters they arc intend ed toproduce, and in the thicker ones the distributing combinations a reordinarily formed in a web of less thickness than that of thematrix'body, and the controlling cars are similarly of less than thebody thickness. It has been customary to locate the web and cars atopposite sides of such thick matrices,

and while this arrangement is entirely sai'isfactory for certainpurposes, it renders them unavailable or disadvantageous for others. Inthe present instance, thcrcforc, Iliavc produced a matrix with both thecars and the combination web of less thickness than .that of its body,but wherein both are lo cated at the rear side of the matrix and insubstantially the same plane. As a consequence of this construction,and'particularly in connection with the customary distributing devices,I secure certain advantageous results, which proceed from the fact thatthe matrices may now be disengaged from their tion Y at oppositesupporting means with their rear faces always in the same plane,irrespective of their thickness.

in the accompanying drawing, 1 have shown my invention in preferred formand by way of example, and as applied to the ordinary linotype machine.but obviously many variations and alterations may be made therein, andin its mode of applica-- tion, without departure from its spirit- Forinstance, it may be applied to other forms of typographical machines,such as type setters, type casters which handle type or dies instead or.metriccs; or the same principles may be adopted in connection withvarious styles of mechanism, wherein thefunctions and capabilities ofthe improved matrix render it particularly desirable.

Generally speaking, I desire it to be understood that l do not limitmyself to any spccific form or embodiment, except in so far as suchlimitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a rear View. partly broken away,of a portion of the distributing mechanism of a linotypc machinc: Fig. 2is a. sectional view, taken substai'itially on the line 2---2 of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 a rear view of certain of the parts shown in Fig.5. 1: Fig. 4 isa similar View; Fig. 5

shows a matrix having my invention applied thereto, and Fig. (i a matrixof the kind now in use; and Fin. '4' is a vicw illustrating a furthercapability of my improved construction in connection with othermechanism.

Referring: to Fig. 5. my inmrovcd matrix X is provided with'theprojecting ears X and the distributing toothed combination X formed in athin web thereof. it being noted that the cars X and combination X arelocated at the same side of the matrix and in tho same plane. Fig. 6illustrates the form of matrix Y now in general use, having thc ears Y,and the distributing combinasides thereof. The matrix Y is also formedwith a vertical recess Y", which is designed to straddle the end of anoverlying bar and thus to permit the elevation of the matrix. when it islifted into cngagemcntwith thedisti uiterscrews. The necessity for thisrecess is entirely dispensed with in my improved construction, and thisfeature constitutes one of its advantages- Rcferring to Fig. 1, thematrices X. are as and the like, or machines fer device usual supportedby their teeth on the short rail A, and are shifted along it by thetrans- B, whereby they are advanced against the bar G having th whichcontact with the ears K and thereby arrest the matrices'in suitableposition to be lifted individually by the reciprocating linger 1) intoengagement with the screws E, whereby in turn they are transferred tothe distributor rail F.

In Fig. 3, several matrices of diiferent thicknesses are illustrated,ranging from the very thin ones, having ears of substantially the samethickness as that of their bodies, to the very thick ones, having earsof materially less than the body thickness. Referring also to Figs. 1and 2, it will be noted that the short rail A is rovided at each sidewith a blade or piece 8, which overlies the ears X of all the matricesbut one, and that the shoulder C is located beyond them at a distancesubstantially equal to or slightly greater than the-thickness of asingle ear, in such manner that the blades G will permit the upwardpassage of one matrix at a time, and this whether the matrix body bethick or thin. In Fig. 3, a thin matrix is shown in position to beelevated, the others being held down by the -blades G; and in Fig. 4, athick matrix is shown in the same position. In other words, due to thelocation of the ears at the rear sides of the matrices, they will all bedisengaged with their rear faces in the same plane, irrespective oftheir thickness.

In Fig. 7 I show still another capability of the same construction inconnection with other mechanism. It will be seen that the matrices X arehere' supported by their ears X on the guiding rails M, and that as theyare moved in the direction of the arrow, they will drop therefrom one byone into the chute N. Due to the construction already described, theyare disengaged in the same manner, namely, always with their rear facesin the same vertical plane, irrespective of their thickness. Thisarrangement involves a considerable degree of convcnicnce, in that it isnot necessary to make special adjustment or provide for variation at thetime of disengagement. in the older form shown in Fig. 6, when the earsY are located at the front side, the matrices would drop sooner or lateraccording to their thickness, and consequently with their rear facesmore or. less advanced in relation to the tube or chute, thusnecessitating a special form or location of the latter.

As previously stated, I have shown my invention in preferred. form andby way of example, but obviously many variations and modifications willsuggest themselves to those skilled in the art and still. be comprisedwithin its scope.

lVhile my improved separating mechae shoulders C",

nism is especially adapted to rices formed with projecting therear'side,\it will be understood that it may be employed withadvantageous results both in connection with matrices of ordi' naryconstruction, and also in connection with Janusfaced matrices, which areadapted to be reversed during assemblage to bring characters on eitheredge in operative position, and which would thus be presented to theseparating mechanism with the ing ears foremost or rearmost in the lineof travel. The ordinary distributor box is of such character that thematrices are separated only when they are presented with their earsforward, because the customary rail or bar, which overlies the matricesand prevents the separation of more than one of them at a time, engagesin a notch in the rear face of the matrix body. In my con struction,however, the overlying rails G, due to their location above theprojecting ears of the matrices, will allow the separation ofJanus-faced matrices whether reversed or unreversed, or of ordinarymat-- rices with their ears foremost, it being noted that there issuliicient space between the rails G to permit the upward passage of thethicker body portions of the matrices when they are arrested with theirears foremost.

By the term rear side or rear face as herein employed for designating acertain side or face of a matrix, is meant that side of the matrix whichduring the travel of the latter through both the separating anddistributing mechanism is the following one as distinguished from theleading one. In this connection it must be remembered that sometimes orat certain stages of the circulation of the matrix through the machine,it travcls otherwise than with the above named rear side real-most, forinstance, during composition, when such side is the leading one insteadof the following one.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent of theUnited States is:

1. In a typographical machine, the combination of type or matricesformed with projecting ears and movable toward and through thedistributing mechanism in the same direction, and means for supportingthe type or matrices by their ears, the said projecting ears beinglocated at the rear side of the type or matrices to permit theirdisengagement from the supporting means with their rear faces in thesame vertical plane ir respective of their body thickness.

2. In a typographical machine, the combination of distributingmechanism, a line of type or matrices formed with projecting ears andmovable toward the distributing mechanism in the same direction as thatof their travel therethrough, and supporting handle mat ears located at.

project-- comprising a device to arrest the type or matrices by theirears, said projecting ears being located at the rear side of the type ormatrices to permit their individual separation fr'om'the line vith theirrear faces in the same vertical plane irrespective of theirbody'thickness.

3. I nation of distributing mechanism, a line of type or matrices formedwith projecting and movable same direction as that of their traveltherethrongh, a finger to disengage the type or matrices individuallyfrom the line, and a' device to arrest the movement of the line byengagement With the ears of the leadingtype to v nation of a or matrix,whereby all the type or matrices will be disengaged from the line withtheir rear faces substantially in the same vertical plane irrespectiveof their body thickness.

In a typographical machine, the combination. of distribnting mechanism,a line of type 01' ears at their rear side and movable toward thedistributing mechanism in the'same direction as that of their traveltherethrough, a device to arrest the movement of the line by engagementwith the ears of the leading type or i'natrix, a finger to detach theleading type ormatrixirom the line, and a memer to prevent thedisengagement of more than one type or matrix at a time. v j In atypographical machine,the combiline of type or matrices havingprojecting cars, a lifting finger to detach the leading type or matrixtherefrom, and a fixed member located above the ear of. the

next typeor matrix to prevent the detachment of more than one type ormatrix at a time.

n a typographical machine, the combi matrix from the line, and amatrices formed with projecting 6 In a typographical machine, theconrbination of a line of type or matrices havlng projecting ears, andmovable endwise toward the distributer, a stop device to arrest themovement of the line the.ears of the leading type or matrix, a liftingfinger to detach the leading type or fixed member located above the'earof the next type or matrix and at a distance rearward from said stopdevice, substantially equal to the thickness of a matrix car, so as toprevent the detachment of more than one type-or matrix from the line ata time.

'7, In a typographical machine, the combination of a line of type ormatrices formedi with projecting ears, and separating means therefor,comprising a stop device to arrest the movement of the line byengagement with the ears of the leading type or matrix, and a fixedmember located above the ear of the next type or matrix and at adefinite distance rearward from said stop device, the projecting ears ofsaid type or matrices being of such relative thickness thatbut'one typeor matrix at a time may be disengaged from the line.

by engagement with- 8-. In atypographical machine, the combination of aline of type or matrices formed with projecting ears, and separatingmeans therefor, comprising 'a fixed member to overly the projecting earsof theatype or matrices and prevent the separation of more than onematrix at a, time from the line.

'In testimony \vhereof I hereunto set my hand this twelfth day ofNovember, 1912, in-the presence of two attesting Witnesses.

JOHN R. ROGERS. Witnesses DAVID S. KENNEDY, Annmv W. F. GUEST.

